Reversed Angled Squeegee

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a squeegee having a handle with a resilient blade and sponge located at a distal end of the handle. The squeegee blade is set at an angle of less than 90 degrees of the angle formed between the handle and the point of the blade&#39;s attachment. This configuration allows the squeegee to work with gravity by preventing the newly cleaned surface from being fouled by used cleaning solution. When used with a tilt window the squeegee pushes the cleaning solution down the tilted surface and with gravity leaving a clean dry surface behind.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/231,363 filed on Aug. 5, 2009, and is incorporated by referenceherein, in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to window cleaning devices, andmore particularly to the type of cleaning devices generally referred toas squeegees wherein the present squeegee includes a blade having anangle reversed from a conventional squeegee.

BACKGROUND

Squeegee type window cleaners generally include an elongated handle andan integral, elongated head extending perpendicularly across one endthereof. The head includes an elongated channel extending longitudinallyand in which a window cleaning sponge is positioned and secured by aclamping mechanism. The squeegee head further includes a second channel,smaller in width than the first, sponge channel, in which a rubber bladeis securely positioned.

In use, the cleaning fluid soaked sponge is moved back and forth acrossa window and then the rubber blade is passed across the window to removethe cleaning fluid from the window surface.

Windows having pivotable or “tilt” sashes have become widely accepted inrecent years due to improved mass production techniques, hardware andother innovations. Tilt windows can be easily cleaned from inside adwelling. Tilt sash windows have made cleaning window and especiallywindows located on a second or greater story much easier.

Conventional squeegees are pulled to clear cleaning fluid using a bladeangled up and away from the handle or at an angle greater than 90degrees. Such an angle allows the blade to be dragged down and workingwith gravity to collect the cleaning fluid and removing it from thewindow surface.

Unfortunately, when cleaning tilt windows with conventional squeegeesthe cleaning fluid is pulled up to the top of the tilted window. Thecleaning fluid collects at the top of the window and is pulled down bygravity over the newly cleaned surface. The used cleaning fluid alsocreates a mess for the user resulting in hands and sleeves soaked incleaning fluid. Pulling the cleaning fluid down the window to the bottomof the sash of a tilt window as in a conventional window requires one toreach out and under the tilted window. However, this would essentiallydefeat the purpose of an easy to clean tilt window since reaching underthe window to clean it is very difficult.

Thus, what is needed is a method and apparatus capable of cleaning atilt window without the need to draw the cleaning fluid up the window. Amethod and apparatus is also needed to prevent the used fluid fromrunning down the newly cleaned window surface and from soaking a user'shands with fluid.

SUMMARY

The present invention includes a handle having both a resilient bladeand sponge located at a distal end of the handle forming a squeegee. Thepresent squeegee includes a blade having a reversed angle for usetypically with a tilt window. The blade is at an angle of less than 90degrees of that angle formed between the handle and the point ofattachment for the blade to the handle.

The present squeegee works with gravity by angling the blade at an angleless than 90 degrees to push the blade down the window and collectingand engaging the cleaning fluid at the leading edge of the blade. Thecleaning fluid is essentially pushed off of the window surface leaving aclean dry surface behind.

In greater detail, the squeegee assembly includes an elongated handlehaving a longitudinal axis. A resilient blade is mounted at the distalend of the handle. An angle is formed between the longitudinal axis andthe resilient blade extending out from the distal end of the handle,wherein the angle is less 90° and greater than about 5°. In a furtherembodiment the angle is less than 85° and another less than 60° and inan additional embodiment the angle is less than 45°.

The squeegee may further include a sponge mounted to the distal end ofthe handle. The sponge is elongated and forms an angle of less than 90°and greater than 5° in an embodiment relative to the longitudinal axisof the handle. In a further embodiment the angle is less than 60°. Thesponge may be formed from any absorbent material and in an embodiment ishoused in a mesh or net material to provide containment. Additionallythe net material may serve as an abrasive surface for cleaning.

The resilient blade may be constructed from such materials as a vinyl,elastomer or other thermoplastic. The handle may be formed from most anymaterial such as metal, wood or thermoplastic. The resilient blade maybe pivotively mounted to the distal end of the handle whereby the angleof the blade is adjustable. Additionally, the resilient blade may bereversible.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the present squeegee and the formed angle being lessthan 90 degrees relative to the handle portion of the squeegee;

FIG. 2 shows a further illustration of the present squeegee in greaterdetail having the blade portion angled less than 90 degrees relative tothe handle portion; and

FIG. 3 illustrate the operation of the squeegee being pushed down thetilt window and working with gravity to remove the dirty water orcleaning solution.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a squeegee having a handle with a resilient blade andsponge located at a distal end of the handle. The squeegee has a bladeat an angle of less than 90 degrees of that angle formed between thehandle and the point of attachment for the blade to the handle. Thesqueegee works with gravity by angling the blade at an angle less than90 degrees to push the cleaning solution down the window instead ofpulling it up in a conventional configuration. As the blade is pusheddown a tilt window during cleaning it collects and removes washing fluidfrom the window surface.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings in which like numeralsindicate like items throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-3 depict thepresent squeegee in the various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates the angle 2 relative to the handle 4 and the blade 6.As seen, the formed angle is less than 90 degrees relative to the handle4. In a further embodiment, the sponge 8 portion of the squeegee 1 maybe off-set.

In greater detail FIG. 1 shows the squeegee assembly 1 having anelongated handle 4 with a longitudinal axis 5. A resilient blade 6 ismounted at the distal end 7 of the handle 4. An angle 2 is formedbetween the longitudinal axis 7 and the resilient blade 6 extending outfrom the distal end 7 of the handle wherein the angle 2 is less 90° andgreater than 5°. In a further embodiment the angle 2 is less than 60°and in an additional embodiment the angle 2 is less than 45°.Additionally, it is contemplate the angle may be less than 5° and theterm “about” as used herein as a modifier would include angles ofdegrees of about one degree less in an embodiment. In the unmodified, 5°would be the limit.

The squeegee 2 may further include a sponge 8 mounted to the distal end7 of the handle 2. The term “sponge” as used herein is to be inclusiveof all liquid absorbing materials. The sponge 8 is elongated and mayform an angle 10 of less than 90° and greater than 5° relative to thelongitudinal axis 5 of the handle 4. In a further embodiment the angle10 is less than 60°. The sponge 8 may be formed from any absorbentmaterial and in an embodiment is housed in a mesh or net material toprovide containment. Additionally, the net material may serve as anabrasive surface for cleaning.

The resilient blade 6 may be constructed from such materials as a vinyl,elastomer or other thermoplastic. The handle 4 may be formed from mostany material such as metal, wood or thermoplastic. The resilient blade 6may be pivotively mounted to the distal end 7 of the handle 4 wherebythe angle of the blade may be adjustable. The pivot mount may be anyconventional means as known in the art. Additionally, the resilientblade 6 may be reversible such that the cleaning edges can be reversedto extend the life of the squeegee 1. For example, the blade 6 may beslot fitted to the distal end 7 so that it can be slid out and reversed.

Both the sponge 8 and blade 6 may be fitted and attached to the distalend 7 of the handle 4 using any known means in the art. Furthermore, itis contemplated the distal end 7 of the handle covers a portion of thehandle 4 extending down from the top and not just the tip. Thus thesponge 8 and blade 6 may be attached to the handle in and around adistal portion of the handle when referring to the distal end 7 in thepresent application.

FIG. 2 is a further illustration of the squeegee 1 showing the variousparts including the elongated handle 4, the angle 2 between the handle 2and the blade 6. Additionally shown is one example attachment mechanismsecuring the blade 6 at an angle 2 and the sponge 8 to the distal end 7of the handle 4.

FIG. 3 illustrate the operation of the squeegee 1 being pushed down thetilt window 17 and working with gravity to remove the dirty water orcleaning solution The blade 6 is set at a reversed angle from the normto push the water down the window 17 to prevent streaks and dirty waterfrom fouling a clean window 17. The sponge 8 can be used to wet thewindow 17 in the conventional manner and the blade 6 can then remove theaqueous cleaning solution from the surface of the window.

While Applicant has set forth embodiments as illustrated and describedabove, it is recognized that variations may be made with respect todisclosed embodiments. Therefore, while the invention has been disclosedin various forms only, it will be obvious to those skilled in the artthat many additions, deletions and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this invention, and no unduelimits should be imposed except as set forth in the following claims.

1. A squeegee assembly comprising: an elongated handle having alongitudinal axis; a resilient blade mounted at the distal end of thehandle; and an angle formed between the longitudinal axis and theresilient blade extending out from the distal end of the handle whereinthe angle is less 90° and greater than about 5°.
 2. The squeegee ofclaim 1, further including a sponge mounted to the distal end of thehandle.
 3. The squeegee of claim
 2. wherein the sponge is elongated andforms an angle of less than 90° and greater than about 5° relative tothe longitudinal axis of the handle.
 4. The squeegee of claim 3, whereinthe elongate sponge forms an angle of less than 60° relative to thelongitudinal axis of the handle.
 5. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein theangle formed between the longitudinal axis and the resilient bladeextending out from the distal end of the handle is less 60°.
 6. Thesqueegee of claim 1, wherein the angle formed between the longitudinalaxis and the resilient blade extending out from the distal end of thehandle is less than 45°.
 7. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein theresilient blade is constructed of a material selected from the groupconsisting essentially of vinyl, elastomer, thermoplastic andcombinations thereof.
 8. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein the resilientblade is pivotively mounted to the distal end of the handle whereby theangle of the blade is adjustable.
 9. The squeegee of claim 1, whereinthe resilient blade is reversible.
 10. A squeegee assembly comprising:an elongated handle having a longitudinal axis; a resilient blademounted at the distal end of the handle; a sponge mounted to the distalend of the handle; and an angle formed between the longitudinal axis andthe resilient blade extending out from the distal end of the handle andwherein the angle is less 90° and greater than about 5°.
 11. Thesqueegee of claim 10, wherein the angle formed between the longitudinalaxis and the resilient blade extending out from the distal end of thehandle is less 60°.
 12. The squeegee of claim 10, wherein the angleformed between the longitudinal axis and the resilient blade extendingout from the distal end of the handle is less than 45°.
 13. The squeegeeof claim 10, wherein the resilient blade is constructed of a materialselected from the group consisting essentially of vinyl, elastomer,thermoplastic and combinations thereof.
 14. The squeegee of claim 10,wherein the sponge is elongated and forms an angle of less than 90° andgreater than 5° relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle.
 15. Thesqueegee of claim 14, wherein the elongate sponge forms an angle of lessthan 60° relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle.
 16. Thesqueegee of claim 10, wherein the elongated handle is formed from amolded thermoplastic.
 17. A squeegee assembly comprising: an elongatedhandle having a longitudinal axis; a resilient blade detachably mountedat the distal end of the handle wherein the blade is reversible; asponge mounted to the distal end of the handle; and an angle formedbetween the longitudinal axis and the resilient blade extending out fromthe distal end of the handle and wherein the angle is less 90° andgreater than about 5°.
 18. The squeegee of claim 17, wherein theresilient blade is pivotively mounted to the distal end of the handlewhereby the angle of the blade is adjustable.
 19. The squeegee of claim17, wherein the sponge is elongated and forms an angle of less than 90°and greater than 5° relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle. 20.The squeegee of claim 17, wherein the resilient blade is reversible.